Happy-Go-Lucky Trotting Gelding Ready for New Adventures!

Arclight Hanover, known to us as "Al" is a lightly-raced trotting gelding who has won over our barn with his happy and laid-back personality! His adorable looks and lovely movement make him a great prospect for a variety of future careers!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Al is led easily around the farm in a regular halter and cotton lead rope.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - Al enjoys his grooming time and will usually let you know when you've hit the perfect spot with his adorable lower lip movements!
• Horse Care - Level 1 - Al is barefoot, an easy keeper, and requires no supplements.
• Riding - Level 1 - Al has been one of the easiest restarts we have had!  He's been unfazed by having a rider and eagerly goes to work.  Al has done ring work, ground poles, and happily trail rides around the farm and down the road.  He is pleasantly forward, but doesn't drag or pull on his rider.  On the lunge line, he will walk, trot, and canter and has a lovely way of going!
• General Demeanor - Level 1 - Al is a laid-back guy and is mid-level in our turnout group of geldings. He is easy to have in the barn and is always sticking his head out at passers-by looking for scratches or treats!
• Physical Capability - Level 4 - Al had a minor suspensory injury in his last race and has since been rehabbed.  While he should stay in light work, on firm footing for the remainder of the year, he has no major limitations and is suitable for most second careers including jumping. 

 click for horse level information 

Interested in this horse? Already approved adopters may reach out to this horse's trainer at the "Email About This Horse" button above for further information. Still need to become approved? Learn about the process and start your questionnaire at newvocations.org/adopt. Approved applications are valid for 2 years.

ABOUT OUR ADOPTION FEES

New Vocations intentionally sets our horses’ adoption fees lower than the average cost of buying a Thoroughbreds or Standardbreds from a private seller (in today’s market, horses coming right off the track are often listed at $5,000 to $10,000!).

Our facilities are nearly always at max capacity, which means we can’t take in a new horse until one is adopted. Keeping our adoption fees low helps us find appropriate homes for horses quickly, thereby enabling us to assist even more horses transition off the track as stalls open up in our barns! In that way, when you adopt a horse through New Vocations, you’re actually helping two horses: your new family member and the one who takes his place in our program!

While our adoption fees are low, it’s important to remember that costs associated with the ongoing care and additional training for a horse (adopted or otherwise!) can be high. We hope that by helping adopters save money upfront, you’ll have more funds available to cover the costs of properly caring for and training a retired racehorse.

In general, our fees range around $3,500, $2,500, $1,000, and Under $1,000:

• $3,500: This range is for horses considered unlimited in their physical ability or those with exceptional qualities that would make them an upper- or high-level equine athlete.
  
  
• $2,000 - $2,500: This range is for horses we consider physically capable of a mid- to high-level second career. They have few or relatively minor limitations.
  
  
• $1,000 - $1,500: This range is for horses best-suited for a low- to mid-level career. They may have sustained an injury but have been fully treated and rehabbed. These horses have been examined by and cleared by our veterinarians for most disciplines, possibly up to a certain level (for example, suitable for a career jumping 2’0” but not suitable for a 3’6” career).
  
  
• Under $1,000: This range is for horses that could be harder to place in a perfect situation or those with more limited athletic potential (for example, possibly suitable for flat-work only) but are still capable of a successful second career. They have been evaluated by our veterinarians and are otherwise healthy.

Another perk of adopting from us? We do all we can to give you the most value for your adoption fee. Most adoptable horses have been in the program for a minimum of 60 days, during which they're rehabilitated (if needed), socialized with other horses, evaluated by trainers and veterinarians, and in regular training with a professional; on average, the monetary value of these services exceeds $5,000. Any medical records (often including X-ray and ultrasounds) and pertinent history we have on each horse is also available to interested and approved adopters.